Bury Take And Talk Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Your lymphatic system helps eliminate your body’s waste. A healthy, active lymphatic system uses the natural movements of smooth muscle tissue to do this.However, surgery, medical conditions, or other damage can cause fluids to build up in your lymph system and your lymph nodes, a condition known as.If you’ve ever had a surgery on or involving your lymph nodes, your doctor may have suggested lymphatic drainage massage performed by a certified massage or physical therapist.

• Manual Lymphatic Drainage Side Effects
• Lymphatic Drainage Therapy

However,lymphatic massage is not recommended for people with the following conditions:. congestive heart failure.

history of blood clots or stroke. current infection. liver problems.

kidney problems. Procedures that affect or remove your lymph nodes can cause lymphedema as a side effect.Lymphedema will only occur in the area near a surgical site.For example, if you have lymph nodes removed as a part of cancer surgery to your left breast, only your left arm, not your right, might be affected with lymphedema.Lymphedema can also occur as a result of an injury or medical conditions such as or in the body.To move waste fluids away from the damaged area, lymphatic massage, which uses a gentle pressure, can help. It’s one technique used to reduce lymphedema.Raakhee Patel, PT, DPT, CLT, is a physical therapist and certified lymphedema specialist who trains people to perform their own lymphatic massage after surgery.“We don’t talk enough about lymphedema,” says Patel. Fluid build-up is uncomfortable and causes pain and heaviness in the affected area. And, according to Patel, “Stage 3 lymphedema can be devastating,” causing significant depression and lack of mobility that could complicate healing.When performing a lymphatic massage, it’s important that the massage include more than just the affected area. The entire lymphatic system of the body, except the head, right side of the chest, and right arm, drains near the left shoulder. So, a massage should include all areas to drain properly.

Patel teaches two stages of lymphatic massage: clearing and reabsorption. The purpose of clearing is to create a vacuum with gentle pressure so that the area is prepared to bring in more fluid, creating a flushing effect.Clearing involves:.: located directly under the collarbone.: located under the arms. inside of the elbowsClearing motions can be repeated as many as 10 times a day. Patel advises, “Always massage both sides of your body, not just the side with the lymphedema.” A guide to clearingThere are three stages to clearing. Be sure to clear the supraclavicular area, axillary area, and inner-elbow area, in that order.To clear the supraclavicular area:. Begin by lying on a comfortable, flat surface.

Cross your arms on your chest, with your hands resting just below the collarbones. Then lift your elbows slowly.

The muscle action is as much pressure required to prepare the area to flush lymphatic fluid.Next, clear the axillary area:. Lay one hand above your head.

Use your other hand to gently scoop the underarm area from top to bottom. The only pressure required is gentle enough to move the surface of the skin.Finally, clear the area inside the elbows:. Lay your arm straight at your side. Use the fingers of your opposite hand to gently pull the skin inside the elbow an inch at a time.Only very gentle pressure is required. “In lymphatic massage, you’re only working the superficial skin structure,” says Patel. That’s where the fluid is trapped.

How to perform lymphatic massage on the legsThe goal of lymphatic massage on the legs is to open the lymphatic vessels to let excess fluid drain back up into the lymph nodes located in the groin.There are different techniques used to perform lymphatic massage on the legs, but all have the same end goal: to release the fluid to go back up through the lymph nodes.To perform a lymphatic massage on the legs, you can follow these steps:. Perform lymphatic massage of the upper body before beginning with the legs.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage Side Effects

Follow the three stages of clearing in the supraclavicular area, the axillary area, and the inner-elbow area, in that order. This ensures that the system is clear to allow fluid to drain up. Use light pressure. If you can feel the muscles underneath your skin, you are pressing too hard. Begin the leg massage at the furthest point away from the injury or affected area and work your way down. For example, if your ankle has swelling, start the massage on the upper part of the leg.

Starting at the top of the leg, put one hand on the inside of the leg and the other on the back of your leg. With gentle pressure, stretch the skin from the inside of your leg up and out, toward your hip. Continue this motion down the leg until you reach the knee. When you reach the knee, stretch the skin up, with alternating hands, toward your armpit. Repeat 10 to 15 times.You have now completed the clearing step of the lymphatic massage. A guide to reabsorptionThe second part of lymphatic massage is reabsorption.

To perform this stage of massage:. Begin at the affected part of the body farthest from the core of the body. For example, begin at the tips of the fingers if you have lymphedema in your hand, arm, and shoulder. Using a gentle, sweeping motion with just enough pressure to shift the surface of the skin, massage from fingertip to hand, from hand to elbow, and from elbow to shoulder.“Patient compliance is the hardest part of self-care, especially for women, who are so used to taking care of others,” says Patel.She advises people to set aside at least 20 minutes a day for lymphatic drainage massage. How do you know if lymphatic drainage massage is effective? “This is a maintenance technique,” says Patel.

“Your lymphedema should not get worse if you regularly practice lymphatic massage.”Also, drink water. Well-hydrated tissue helps moves out waste materials.Managing your lymphedema can also include:. using a compression sleeve to prevent fluid buildup. seeing a qualified therapist for in-office drainage massageWhen choosing a therapist, learn as much about their education as possible.

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy

“Massage is very good for you, but deep tissue massage can be too heavy for someone with lymphedema, so don’t assume you can just go to a massage therapist.”Look for someone who is a certified lymphedema therapist (CLT) and preferably a physical or massage therapist with oncology and pathology training.

This is a controversial issue that has many supporters on either side. On one hand, lymphatic massage stimulates the immune system, and massage in general brings oxygen into all corners of the body. Cancer is an anaerobic disease, meaning it can flourish in places that lack oxygen.On the other hand, the lymphatic system, which circulates throughout the body, may have the ability to pump cancer cells to new place, though technically this can only happen if cancer had already taken root in the lymphatic system.Studies show no difference in metastasis of cancer between lymphatic drainage patients, and a control group that has not received the treatment. However some health practitioners continue to advise against all forms of body work. Some hospitals, such as the M.D. Anderson center in Houston, disagree wholeheartedly, and have a team of massage therapists on staff specifically for their cancer patients.

There is some controversy surrounding this issue. In 2003, the International Society of Lymphology published in a consensus document a theoretic concept that cancer metastasis can be promoted by mobilizing dormant cancer cells via massage/mechanical compression. This was, however, only a theory.Dr.

Michael Foldi, an internationally renowned expert in the field of lymphology, has stated that malignancy is a contraindication for complete decongestive therapy (which includes massage in the form of manual lymph drainage, or MLD) pending two points: (1) the patient must be in treatment for the cancer, and (2) MLD should not be performed in the area of the body that is directly affected by a tumor. He states that metastasis is not caused by complete decongestive therapy. In his 2004 response to this consensus document, he stated:'The view, that by mobilizing dormant tumor cells, for example by massage, metastases can betriggered, is obsolete. The ability, to detach from the primary tumor mass, to invade nearby tissue andthen metastasize, is acquired only by an elite few cells. These elite cells metastasize, regardless ofwhether they are pushed or not by massage. The molecular biological condition of dormant tumor cellsis inappropriate for the formation of metastases.'

Indeed, a number of studies of different cancers have shown that tissue exposure to cancer cells does not mean that metastasis will necessarily occur. Factors such as the biological properties of the cancer cells as well as the condition of the patient's immune system are responsible for metastasis. Personally I do not believe it should not be done. You would need to talk to your doctor and get their approval before you get any massage done. It all varies by client. It depends on what type of cancer you have, what stage it is in, your general health, and some other factors.You need to be very careful, as cancer cells spread through the lymph system and can be transmitted throughout the body easier with a lymphatic massage.

I have worked on many clients with end stage cancer where this is not a issue.The best thing you you can do is talk to your doctor. I do recommend acupuncture, and reflexology. It used to be believed that all cancer could be spread through the lymphatic system by massage, but research now shows that this may not be true.Oncology massage is quickly gaining popularity, as it has been shown to have great benefits for those going through cancer treatment.

For example, it can increase white blood cell production, this is a HUGE benefit for those going through chemotherapy!With many types of cancer, the lymphatic system is already hard at work and we do not need to overload an already overloaded lymphatic system (Systems that are overloaded can and do shut down!)Additionally people going through certain types of chemo are more prone to infection, and because of nerve impairment caused by chemo and/or radiation, it could be difficult for the patient to detect the infection themselves. I know this as a 11 year cancer survivor! I still have a hard time detecting my own bladder infections as a result of radiation. We do not use lymphatic massage with infection present because it can overload the already-stressed lymphatic system and do more harm than good.That being said, massage can be done on cancer patients. There are certification programs now being offered, and those working with cancer patients should have the certification.

There should also be communication between the doctors and the massage therapist, so we know exactly what is going on with our clients. This makes massage safer for both the client and the therapist.